X3D Earth Working Group Charter

Status: discussion draft.
Next steps: member discussion, board reaction, finalization at initial working-group meeting.
See: X3D Earth Technical Requirements Workshop 2006 presentations

Goals

The X3D Earth Working Group will use the Web architecture, XML languages and open protocols to build a standards-based X3D Earth usable by governments, industry, scientists, academia and the general public.

X3D-Earth efforts encompass client-side, server-side, authoring and conversion technologies. Specific technical objectives include:

  • Build a backdrop X3D model of planet Earth
  • Use publicly and privately available terrain datasets
  • Use publicly and privately available imagery and cartography
  • Use X3D Geospatial Component throughout
  • Provide linkable locations for any place
  • Provide hooks for physical models
  • Use open standards, extensions and process

Motivation

The Extensible 3D (X3D) Earth project will create a standards-based 3D visualization infrastructure for visualizing all manner of real-world objects and information constructs in a geospatial context. Archivability of models using stable commercial tools and noncommercial international standards will ensure that 3D work can remain accessible and repeatable for many years to come.

  • Public and government assets need to be openly available over long term, indefinitely
  • Huge investment in data preparation, future rework/rewrite may not be possible
  • Archiving, availability is essential prerequisite for many groups
  • New spatial capabilities become possible, including Semantic Web and search-based applications

Participation

Primary X3D Earth efforts will be coordinated and performed within the "safe haven" of a Web3D Consortium working group. This is the follow-on effort to the Web3D

Working Group Cochairs

  • Don Brutzman
  • Mike McCann

Web3D Consortium members include commercial companies, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, academic institutions and individual professionals.

Liaisons

Liaison efforts are very important to ensure that successful results are an interoperable with existing and future infrastructures for the Web and the international geospatial community.

  • OpenGIS Consortium (OGC)
  • World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
  • SEDRIS
  • ISO SC-24

Group Decision-Making Process

Consensus or voting? There are important reasons for each. This will be discussed and decided at the initial working group meeting.

Past experience in Web3D working groups has shown that the best products result from determining requirements, proposing technical solutions, building consensus through results and ultimately standardization of results. Implementation and evaluation of multiple compatible solutions is essential.

Intellectual Property Considerations

Primary X3D Earth efforts will be coordinated and performed within the "safe haven" of a Web3D Consortium working group. Working group members agree to follow the Web3D Consortium Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) policy. (summarize...) All patent encumbrances must be predeclared prior to working group scrutiny. There is a strong preference for only including royalty Free (RF) technology.

Results and Milestones

  • Determining technical requirements and overall scope of metadata requirements
  • Scoping group goals, products and specifications. Identifying complementary standards.
  • Building compliant applications, converters and (especially) server-side implementations.
    • Server-side requirements include preparation of content, interlocking/addressable URL schemes, ability to add new X3D Earth content, ability to efficiently mirror resources, streaming of relevant X3D Earth data, etc.
    • Multiple implementations, including at least one open-source implementation
    • Multiple example datasets for each capability, including at least one publicly-available dataset
  • Provide detailed goals for a phased rollout of X3D Earth products, with twice-yearly release milestones and demonstrations
  • Execute a broad strategy for deployment, dissemination and outreach, diffusion of innovation, and widespread adoption.
  • Producing formal specifications for Consortium and partner-organization review, followed by formal ISO standardization.

Charter updated 11 January 2007, 1150

How to join an X3D Working Group

Any Consortium Member can join a Working Group. We offer student, professional, academic and company level memberships.

Consortium members can simply go to the Consortium Member Login area of the website to sign-up to join this work group

X3D Development